THIS is the "miracle" moment a 16-year-old was able to speak for the first time thanks to a revolutionary machine – causing his mum to burst into tears.

James Walker, of Hull, had spent his whole life unable to talk to his family until he started using an eye-tracking machine at his school, which can be instructed to say what he is thinking when he stares at certain points on the screen.

Mr Walker has epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, which meant he used to have up to 50 fits a day until he had an electrical device fitted in his head.

Although he can see, hear and think normally, he has never been able to walk or talk.

His parents, Gina and Ian Walker, had almost given up hope that their son would ever say a word, until he said "hello" thanks to the new technology.

His mother, 40, admitted she burst into tears when she heard her son utter a word for the first time.

The charity worker added: "For his entire life, he hasn't been able to speak, so it feels like a miracle.

"It was massive news for us and very exciting. It was like a door opening for James to the rest of the world.

"People had said for years that James would never be able to do anything but we knew he has something to give and now he has found his voice.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this machine will change James's life completely. It will give him independence for the first time and give him a chance to make his own choices.

"He will be able to communicate with those around him and it will help him protect himself.

"I would love to hear him say 'I love you' like we say to him everyday and to hear James talk to his sister and his dad.

"For James to find his voice after 16 years is huge."

ROSS PARRY/SWNS GROUP

James Walker (with mother, Gina) can now speak

James had an operation to install a nerve stimulator - a piece of equipment designed to reduce seizures by sending electrical pulses to the brain - last year, and since then his fits have reduced to around ten a day.

His mother said: "I think that operation helped, I don't think he could have used the machine before that, he would have been fitting too much.

"He now has more respite between seizures allowing him to use the machine. He would have been moving around too much before."

However, he is only able to use the eye-tracking machine at Frederick Holmes School, Hull, twice a week for 15 minutes, and his family - which includes his elder sister, Natasha - are now trying to raise £12,000 for a machine of his own.

After hearing of the family's plight, the father of a fellow disabled child at Frederick Holmes School has set up a campaign to raise money for their cause.

David Hoyle, whose daughter Annie-May also suffers from severe epilepsy, has set up the James Walker 100 challenge, where he has asked 100 strangers to each raise £120 towards buying James his own eye-tracking machine.

Mr Hoyle said: "As the father of a disabled child, I know how hard it can be to raise money."

To take part in the James Walker 100, call David Hoyle on 07970 046484.